One of the more painful aspects of life is living with regrets that can’t be erased.

My grandfather was a Chicago fireman. My grandmother was always hard on him and it adversely affected my mom’s relationship with him. Early each morning on the way to work, he would come into mom’s bedroom and kiss her on the forehead while she pretended she was sleeping.

He suddenly died of stomach cancer while mom was 21 years old. All her life, even at the age of 91, she regretted all the times she pretended she was asleep.

Try to minimize your regrets by patching up the broken relationships of your life before it’s too late!

If not today, when?

 

Yes, it is just a smile!

A smile validates another person’s self worth. It is a powerful thing and only takes an instant in the midst of your busy life.

Who knows what kind of day a stranger is having? Your smile may be the best thing that has happened to him or her in a long time.

I’m not just suggesting that you smile at strangers. How about that teenager of yours who is driving you up the wall? Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to smile at family members with whom we have long term or short term issues. Smiling at a loved one may be difficult, but it’s all part of that great goal we should all have; unconditional love!

If not today, when?

 

 

Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing or just the opposite. Or, are you the real you?

Do you remember when the term “political correctness” came on the scene? In my opinion, that new trend that swept our society was a poor substitute for good old “honesty.”

Have you lost who you were before “PC” began to alter your values and the way you communicate with others?

Remember, candor is not a fault!

It is actually refreshing when someone speaks their mind as long as it’s not offensive or demeaning. Wouldn’t we all rather converse with another person in an honest dialogue rather each party trying to guess what the other one wants to hear?

If not today, when?

No one is harder on you than YOU!

You could probably make a nice long list of the things you don’t like about yourself. Don’t do that! The world and life will always be there to attack you and your sense of self esteem.

DON’T pile on!

If you’ve had bad days and regrettable events, leave them in the past because you can’t live in yesterday, only today.

That’s the beauty of this existence of ours. We don’t live a week, month or year at a time. No, our lives are served up in bite sized pieces…only one day at a time.

Live it to the full!

If not today, when?

 

 

 

Are you in a rut while performing the same old routine day after day?

If so, it’s time to refresh your soul!

It doesn’t have to necessarily be an expensive change of pace, but I do think it must include a change of scene.

Get away to someplace new to you. After fifty four years of marriage, six children and twenty two grand children, we are on an adventure and loving it!

It’s good for you to push yourself into new surroundings including the opportunity to meet new people and learn of their life experiences.

Don’t become stale. Go for it!

If not today, when?

Some people will never apologize in either words or actions.

Some will offer words of apology, but will not initiate subsequent actions aimed at correcting their behavior. So, in all probability, it will happen again. The words of the apology must not have been heartfelt.

Some will not offer words of apology, but will immediately correct their behavior so it won’t happen again. Perhaps their egos won’t permit them to say the words, but they care enough about their relationship with you that they are willing to do the heavy lifting of a deliberate decision to avoid repeating the offense.

How will you show you are contrite when offending someone?

If not today, when?

 

 

 

Made the same mistake twice? Or more?

We’ve all done that, but in major life decisions, it can really hurt. That’s why snap decisions without any review of past experiences is really poor self management.

In the end, our life story of joy and sorrow is written by the quality of our decision making. In that regard, we must be willing to seek the advice of others whose experience and recommendations could really help us.

So, draw upon your experience when it is available, but don’t allow your pride to prevent you from learning of the experience of someone else.

If not today, when?

We woke up yesterday in a rain storm. It was a dark and gloomy ride to the airport. We flew from Detroit to Orlando. As the plane lifted up through the dark and threatening clouds, we began to see a glimmer of light above.

Suddenly, the sun erased the gloom and we felt like we had entered a whole new world of joy and exultation!

As we must remember that the sun is always with us above every storm, likewise, God is always with us through our personal storms!

Do you believe?

Do you have self imposed standards for your personal behavior? Or put another way, are there certain things you will or will not do?

If you don’t have them clearly established in your mind, I suggest that you consider which principles you will decide to live by.

I have enjoyed sailing most of my life. You would never want to be in a sailboat without a rudder that helps you guide the boat to its destination.

The same is true with your life.

These self imposed guidelines can be your rudder for a lifetime!

If not today, when?

 

 

My dad always told me while I was growing up: “Remember Tom, everybody puts on their pants one leg at a time.” He wanted me to know that I shouldn’t be intimidated by strangers because we all have so much in common.

Although we may look differently one from another, when the chips are down and our backs are against the wall, we are saved by someone we do not know. With all the natural disasters we hear about on a daily basis, acts of heroism are commonplace.

Our different ethnicities and cultures need not be a barrier to our relationships.

So, can’t we love one another and look for the good in everyone?

If not today, when?